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PPP: Obama 49, Romney 48 in Ohio

By MAGGIE HABERMAN

10/20/2012 07:41 PM EDT

The Democratic polling firm PPP finds the race has tightened to within one point in Ohio, 49 percent to 48 percent, President Barack Obama over Mitt Romney.

It's a tightening from Obama's 51-46 lead a week earlier, and the survey was conducted from Oct.18 through Oct. 20, meaning the second presidential debate had had time to filter into voter impressions.

Obama does have one big advantage in Ohio though — he's already winning the election there. 21% of voters in the state say they've already voted, and they report having supported Obama 66/34. Romney has the 52/44 advantage among those yet to cast their ballots but obviously, it's easier to count on votes that are already in the bank.

There are some troubling signs for Obama in the poll though. Ohioans trust Romney more on the economy by 51/47 and trust him more on Libya 49/47. Obama had the advantage on each of those issues in our poll last weekend. Voters do trust Obama over Romney by 52/44 on women's issues, and Obama leads 55/41 with female voters in the poll.

Romney's growing momentum in Ohio is built on strong support from men (57/41) and white voters (55/42). Obama continues to have the small overall advantage based on his strength with women, African Americans (91/9), and young voters (52/39).